Combined cigar, mouthpiece, and holder



Nov. 25, 1941." w. A. BROWN 2,263,567

COMBINED CIGAR, MOUTHPIECE, AND HOLDER Filed 001;. 28, 1940 I INVENTOR 24 33' 3 WM mam 2f 1 md z hffm ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 25,1941

COMBINED CIGAR, MOUTHPIECE, AND HOLDER William A. Brown, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application October 28, 1940, Serial No. 363,120

4 Claims.

One object of this invention is to devise a novel combined cigar, mouthpiece and holder, wherein the cigar and its mouthpiece are packed within a container and hermetically sealed therein so that both thecigar and the mouthpiece can be effectively sterilized and maintained in a sterilized condition indefinitely.

Another object of this invention is to devise a novel combined cigar, mouthpiece and holder, wherein the cigar is packed within a container and hermetically sealed therein, so that the original fragrance, flavor and aroma of the cigar are maintained in a stable condition and deterioration of the tobacco used is prevented.

A further object of the invention is to devise a novel combined cigar holder and mouthpiece, preferably transparent, wherein the mouthpiece is fixedly or movably connected with the body portion of the holder, and wherein the cigar has a sliding fit in the body portion so that it can be moved forwardly in said body portion to form between its inner end and the mouthpiece a cooling chamber of the desired size to suit the wishes of each individual smoker.

A further object of the invention is to devise a novel cigar holder having a body portion, by which a mouthpiece is carried, removable end closures for the body portion, and means for hermetically sealing the end closures with the body portion. The construction is such that a wall of the mouthpiece constitutes a wall of and an extension of the bodyportion.

A further object of the invention is to devise a novel holder with removable end closures, in which the cigar may be smoked with its inner end in the body portion of the holder, with a desired length of the unsmoked portion of the cigar projecting from the body portion, or the entire holder may be discarded and the cigar smoked either with or without the mouthpiece applied to it.

With the above and other objects in'view as will hereinafter clearly appear, my invention comprehends a novel holder combined with a cigar and mouthpiece, which maintains the cigar and mouthpiece in a stable, sanitary and sterile condition until used, and, wherein, when the cigar is smoked while carried by the body-portion of the holder may provide a cooling chamber of the required size to meet the taste of each individual smoker.

Qther novel features of construction and advantage will hereinafter appear in the detailed description and the appended claims.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention,

I have shown in the accompanying drawing, typical embodiments of it, which, in practice, will give satisfactory and reliable results. It is to be understood, however, that these embodiments are typical only, and the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organizedand the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein set forth.

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a combined cigar, mouthpiece and holder, embodying my invention, in conjunction with a sterilizing means.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the cigar re moved from the holder and fitted in the mouthpiece, the mouthpiece being shown in section.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of another embodiment of my invention, in which the mouthpiece is integral with the body portion of the holder.

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of another embodiment of my invention, in which the mouthpiece is in sliding engagement with the body portion of the holder and supports the inner cap or closure, with the banded inner end of the cigar located within the mouthpiece.

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation, similar to Figure 4 but with the caps or closures removed, and the cigar moved forwardly, in the body portion of the holder to form a cooling chamber.

Figure 6 is a sectional view, 'on an enlarged scale, of a section of the body portion of the holder and an end closure, showing more particularly a means for hermetically sealing the end closures with the body portion of the holder.

Figure 7 is a sectional detail of a sealing plug in threaded engagement with the body portion.

Figure 8 is a sectional detail, on an enlarged scale, showing a section of an end closure and a body portion in threaded engagement.

Figure 9 is a sectional detail, on an enlarged scale, showing an end closure, mouthpiece and body portion in threaded engagement.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawing:

l designates the tubular body portion of a holder embodying my invention. The body portion I, see Figure 1, is of reduced overall diameter at its ends, as at 2 and 3, in order to receive the end closures 4 and 5, which are flush with the body portion when applied thereto. The body portion and closures may have any desired contour in cross section, but would preferably be round or rectangular. 6 designates a mouthpiece having a forward portion 1, having a sliding fit within the body portion 1, and conforming to the contour of the bore of the body por tion I. The portion 1 is cut away or beveled, as at 8, to more easily receive the inner end of a cigar 9.

In the embodiment seen in Figure 3, the mouthpiece is integral with the body portion of the holder, and the end closures would be the same as the end closures 4 and 5 of Figure 1. In this embodiment, one end closure is received on the forward end of the body portion. The body portion to has the cylindrical portion or forward sleeve H of the mouthpiece I2 integral with it, and adapted to receive one of the end closures. The opposite end has its overall diameter reduced, as at l3, to receive the other end closure 5. When the cigar 9 is moved forwardly as shown, a cooling chamber M of the desired area is formed for the smoke passing to the mouthpiece.

In the embodiment seen in Figure 4, the mouthpiece slides on the exterior wall of the body portion instead of into the bore of the body portion, as in Figure 1. In this embodiment, the body portion l5 has its overall diameter at the ends reduced, as at It and H. The mouthpiece it has a portion 19 to receive the end closure l, and an offset portion 2%! to fit the reduced portion l6 of the body portion 15. The outer end closure 5 fits the reduced portion H.

The end closures form a flush surface with the exposed portion of the mouthpiece and body portion of the holder.

In Figure 5, I have shown the construction seen in Figure 4 with the end closures 5 and 5 removed and the cigar 9 moved forwardly to form a cooling chamber adjustable to the taste of the individual smoker. In Figures 4 and 5, the cigar has a clearance with the tubular bore of the body portion, and the inner end of the cigar 9 is preferably permanently fitted to the band 2i, which, if desired, may be cap shaped as shown and have a desired number of holes 22 to provide for the proper draft of the cigar, while being smoked. This member 2i, which supports the cigar S, is in sliding engagement with the inside surface of the body portion l5 of the holder, and is also made to slidably fit the inside surface of the forward end of the mouthpiece [8.

In Figure 6, I have shown juxtaposed walls of an end closure and body portion forming a V shaped groove 23 to receive a sealing strip 24, should such a construction be advisable under certain special conditions.

In Figure '7, I have shown a form of plug 33, which may be substituted for the end closures 4 and 5. It is preferably in threaded engagement with the body portion l and is maintained in sealed engagement with the body portion I, by means of the sealing washer 34 or its equivalent.

In Figure 8, I have shown an end closure 5 and a body portion l in threaded engagement and employing a sealing strip 25, if desired, or its equivalent.

In Figure 9, I have shown an end closure 4 in threaded engagement with the mouthpiece l8 and the mouthpiece l8 in threaded engagement with the body portion l5, instead of the slip connection shown in Figure 4. The sealing strip 2:3, or its equivalent, may or may not be employed, as desired.

In some cases, it is advantageous to create and maintain a vacuum in the holder, and this may be accomplished with any conventional vacuum creating device, connected with an opening 25 in an end closure, as in Figure 1, or an opening 26 in the body portion, as shown in Figure 4. These openings are sealed in any desired manner to maintain the vacuum created within the holder, as indicated in Figure '7.

In all forms of my invention, I provide means to effectively seal the end closures with the body portion, which can be accomplished in any desired or conventional manner, such as the sealing strip 24 shown in Figures 1, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9.

The manner in which my novel cigar and holder is assembled, sealed, and taken apart will now be apparent to those skilled in this art and is as follows:

In the embodiment seen in Figure 1, the mouthpiece is moved into the body portion; the cigar is inserted in the body portion; and the end closures slipped on to the ends of the body portion and sealed, which completes the entire assembly ready for sterilization. Under certain rigid sanitary conditions the cigar, closures, body portion and mouthpiece may be sterilized before assembly, and then sealed against contamination and deterioration. When it is desired to smoke the cigar, the end closures are removed and the cigar can be smoked while carried in the body portion. When the forward end closure is removed, a substantial part of the cigar is exposed, which will enable the smoker to pull it forwardly in the body portion to provide the desired smoke or cooling chamber. The smoker may also remove and reverse the mouthpiece for pushing the cigar forwardly, or it can be pushed forwardly by the finger, a pencil or other implement. If desired, the cigar and mouthpiece may be removed from the body portion of the holder and assembled for smoking as shown in Figure 2.

Where there is a slip connection of the body portion with the mouthpiece, as in Figures 1, 4 and 5, the mouthpiece can be removed to facilitate the action of adjusting the cigar forwardly in the body portion to obtain the desired size of the cooling or smoking chamber. In Figure 3, where the mouthpiece is integral with the body portion, the protruding unsmoked portion of the cigar can be grasped to move the cigar forwardly from the mouthpiece to provide the desired cooling or smoking chamber.

It will be understood that any desired size or length of cigar may be employed, and the cigar does not necessarily project beyond the forward end of the body portion when assembled in the holder. The end closures may be in the form of a plug as shown in Figure 7 or cap as shown in Figure 1.

In all forms of my invention, any suitable sterilizing method or means may be used, such as gases, high or low temperatures, electric bactericidal rays etc., either before or after assembly of the various parts comprising my cigar and holder.

I also prefer to use transparent materials in the manufacture of the different parts of my holder, especially the body portion, in order that the smoker may always be aware of the position of the cigar in said body portion in determining the desired size of the smoke or cooling chamber. I further prefer that said materials be rigid or non-deformable to protect the cigar against breakage under all normal conditions. If transparent material is to be used, glass, Lucite or other materials of similar characteristics may be advantageously employed to obtain maximum effectiveness in the transmission therethrough of bactericidal sterilizing rays. I also prefer to make the body portion of the holder of relatively noncombustible material or material treated to render it relatively non-combustible, so that there is no likelihood of the body portion becoming ignited in case the lighted end of the cigar is close to the forward end of the body portion.

It will thus be clear that the purchaser can be assured that, when he buys a conditioned cigar within a holder as herein disclosed, he is obtaining a mouthpiece and cigar that have been properly sterilized and hermetically sealed against contamination and deterioration, with all of the aroma, fragrance and flavor of the cigar maintained in a stable condition until the holder is unsealed and the cigar smoked.

In order to illustrate one manner of sterilization, I have shown in Figure 1, an electric lamp 2! of a character which will radiate sterilizing rays which can be directed against the parts prior to or subsequently to assembly. In many instances in practice, however, it is preferred to subject the parts before or after assembly to temperature changes to effect their sterilization.

It will be apparent that in Figure 1, the mouthpiece 6 has a wall which constitutes a wall of and an extension of the body portion l. The same holds true of the mouthpiece l2 and the body portion ID of Figure 3; as well as the mouthpiece l8 and the body portion I5 of Figure 5.

For convenience of illustration I have shown the end closures and mouthpiece in a slip connection with the body portion, in Figures 1, 4 and 5, but it will be apparent that they may be in threaded engagement with the body portion as shown in Figures 8 and 9 or removably connected therewith, in any desired or conventional manner.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. The processof forming a sterilized, combined mouthpiece and cigar and retaining the same in such sterilized condition until used, which comprises the steps of confinably enclosing the mouthpiece and one end of the cigar, completely confining the other end of the cigar, preventing access of air to the mouthpiece and cigar so confined, sterilizing the mouthpiece and cigar while so confined, and removing the cigar from its completely closed and confined condition when it is to be smoked.

2. A smokers article, comprising a holder having a mouthpiece, a cigar in the holder, a closure at one end of the holder sealing one end of the cigar, and a second closure on the holder, spaced from the first closure, enclosing the mouthpiece and sealing the other end of the cigar, that portion of the holder which is in complete surrounding relation to the cigar constituting a wall of the mouthpiece, and said holder and closures being in hermetically sealed relationship.

3. A combined sterilized casing having detachable ends, a mouthpiece and a cigar therein, said casing being of transparent material sealed to the atmosphere and having within and adjacent one end thereof said mouthpiece, a wall of the mouthpiece constituting a wall of thecasing, said cigar having one end associated with said mouthpiece within the casing, and said casing being adapted to be readily separated into its component parts to expose the combined mouthpiece and cigar for use.

4. A smokers article comprising a normally non-deformable structure having a longitudinal bore, a cigar slidably positionable within said bore, imperforate end closures hermetically sealed and detachably connected with respect to the non-deformable structure to provide for complete protection of the cigar from the atmosphere, a mouthpiece for the cigar associated with the nondeformable structure and one end of the cigar, a wall of the mouthpiece being co-extensive with a wall of the non-deformable structure, the mouthpiece and non-deformable structure constituting a cigar holder, when the end closures 

